.avif)
-640w.webp)
.png)
.png)
.avif)
.png)
.png)
.avif)
.webp)
Standing Seam, Exposed Fastener, or Shingles
Three genuinely different answers, and the cheapest metal option is often the worst value on a house.
Standing Seam
Concealed clips, no penetrations through the panel face, and thermal movement designed into the system. Typically lasts decades longer than exposed fastener and needs very little maintenance. It costs roughly twice as much, and it is the version of metal that belongs on a primary residence.
Exposed Fastener Panels
Lower cost and faster to install, and every screw is a penetration through the waterproofing plane sealed by a rubber washer. A 2,000 square foot roof carries well over a thousand of them. Those washers degrade under UV and need inspection and replacement long before the panels wear out, so this system comes with a service interval rather than without maintenance.
Stay With Asphalt Shingles
Complex geometry, a shorter ownership horizon, or a budget better spent on a correctly installed shingle system than on a compromised metal one. Shingles are also far easier and cheaper to repair, which matters more than most homeowners expect it to.
.avif)
.avif)
